National Maritime Single Window – Cost-Benefit Analysis of Montenegro Case Study

In this paper, the costs and benefits of the National Maritime Single Window (NMSW) for coastal countries that have limited human resources and infrastructure related to maritime traffic are researched. A general method for conducting a cost-benefit analysis of NMSW implementation is proposed. Using this method and the input data for Montenegro, as an example of a small-sized coastal country, the authors assess whether such an investment in NMSW implementation can be beneficial to coastal countries with limited resources.</p

Concerning Intelligent ICT Exploitation in some Maritime Business Organizations: A Pilot Study

This paper examines to which extent some maritime business organizations intelligently use their Information and Communication Technology (ICT) resources. The research is done as a pilot study, since it includes relatively small number of maritime business entities from Montenegro, Albania, Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. Our intention was to indirectly check whether these organizations are ready for the adoption and routinization of novel ICT systems like e-Navigation, Maritime Cloud, e-Maritime, National/Maritime Single Window (N/MSW) etc., through assessing how intelligently they exploit existing ICT solutions. Even though all interviewed managers have evaluated knowledge, organizational culture and managerial skills as key constructs that provide the business organizations’ success, the level of intelligent exploitation of the available ICT solutions is not high. This is problematic, especially if we bare in mind the necessity of making quick adaptation to the considerably more complex, sophisticated and demanding ICT solutions within the context of actual huge digital turbulence in the maritime community

Maritime information sharing environment deployment using the advanced multilayered Data Lake capabilities: EFFECTOR project case study

Establishing an efficient information sharing network among national agencies in maritime domain is of essential importance in enhancing the operational performance, increasing the situational awareness and enabling interoperability among all involved maritime surveillance assets. Based on various data-driven technologies and sources, the EU initiative of Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE), enables the networked participants to timely exchange information concerning vessel traffic, joint SAR & operational missions, emergency situations and other events at sea. In order to host and process vast amounts of vessels and related maritime data consumed from heterogeneous sources (e.g. SAT-AIS, UAV, radar, METOC), the deployment of big data repositories in the form of Data Lakes is of great added value. The different layers in the Data Lakes with capabilities for aggregating, fusing, routing and harmonizing data are assisted by decision support tools with combined reasoning modules with semantics aiming at providing a more accurate Common Operational Picture (COP) among maritime agencies. Based on these technologies, the aim of this paper is to present an end-to-end interoperability framework for maritime situational awareness in strategic and tactical operations at sea, developed in EFFECTOR EU-funded project, focusing on the multilayered Data Lake capabilities. Specifically, a case study presents the important sources and processing blocks, such as the SAT-AIS, CMEMS, UAV components, enabling maritime information exchange in CISE format and communication patterns. Finally, the technical solution is validated in the project’s recently implemented maritime operational trials and the respective results are documented

Combined AI Capabilities for Enhancing Maritime Safety in a Common Information Sharing Environment

The complexity of maritime traffic operations indicates an unprecedented necessity for joint introduction and exploitation of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, that take advantage of the vast amount of vessels’ data, offered by disparate surveillance systems to face challenges at sea. This paper reviews the recent Big Data and AI technology implementations for enhancing the maritime safety level in the common information sharing environment (CISE) of the maritime agencies, including vessel behavior and anomaly monitoring, and ship collision risk assessment. Specifically, the trajectory fusion implemented with InSyTo module for soft information fusion and management toolbox, and the Early Notification module for Vessel Collision are presented within EFFECTOR Project. The focus is to elaborate technical architecture features of these modules and combined AI capabilities for achieving the desired interoperability and complementarity between maritime systems, aiming to provide better decision support and proper information to be distributed among CISE maritime safety stakeholders

Developing Countries&rsquo; Concerns Regarding Blockchain Adoption in Maritime

This paper deals with challenges of implementing blockchain (BC) technology in maritime at developing countries, with a research focus on Montenegro and South Africa. Research design and categories analyzed in the paper are chosen due to the search of relevant secondary literature resources. Selected experts in Information Technology (IT) and maritime from aforementioned developing countries were asked about their perception of BC as disruptive technology, its implementation, and implications on maritime and other industries, through a questionnaire, which contains both quantitative and qualitative parts. The results should give the readers insights into the experts&rsquo; standpoints concerning rational blockchain adoption in maritime and other industries in developing and transitional economies. The paper is organized into six sections: (1) introduction, (2) literature review on blockchain in maritime, (3) research problem and design, (4) results, (5) discussion, and (6) conclusions

On Intelligent Use of ICT in Some Maritime Business Organizations

The paper examines to what extent some maritime business organizations use intelligently available Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions, and in which manners the existing gap between ICT potentials and their real use on daily basis can be mitigated. As a focus group are identified ten maritime business entities from Albania, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro and Slovenia, which share the common Adriatic Sea market. Selected representatives of these maritime organizations have advisedly given responds to the questionnaire, and in such way supported identifying some core problems in the afore mentioned regard, along with deriving some recommendations towards their overcoming in the future. Better internal and external business communications are recognized as key enablers of more effective and efficient exploitation of the existing ICT solutions. Also, better knowledge, skills and organizational culture among management teams and employees are pointed out as main facilitators of more rational and fortunate usage of the ICT systems and tools

Digitalization in Developing Maritime Business Environments towards Ensuring Sustainability

The paper focuses on assessing the level of digitalization in several developing maritime business environments in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia. The assessment has been done in reference to Holtham&rsquo;s and Courtney&rsquo;s Intelligent Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Exploiter Model. The dimensions as maritime business system effectiveness, roles, and skills of information technology personnel, ladders of knowledge, ICT strategy, organizational culture, and manager&rsquo;s mindset are analyzed. In addition, benchmarking with findings from developed maritime business environments in Croatia, Greece, Italy, and Slovenia, which belong to the European Union (EU), by using the same model, has been conducted. This is done with the aim to outline directions for improving the quality and speed of digitalization in non-EU countries, which have been functioning for decades in transitional conditions. The maritime ecosystem naturally has a tendency to be unique and to function smoothly as such. Alleviating the differences in the level and effectiveness of digitalization in developed and developing European countries is a path towards achieving this goal. By sharing their own expertise in the rational and intelligent use of ICT, developed EU countries can support developing non-EU countries towards ensuring sustainability in the entire European and worldwide maritime business ecosystem

Dynamic Smart Numbering of Modular Cargo Containers

In this paper, the authors identify the existence of container imbalance that occurs in different types of ports, depending on the type of inbound and outbound cargo they serve. The authors further analyze international trade realities and maritime companies&rsquo; requirements and identified inefficiencies. A comprehensive review of the relevant container regulations and identification standards is performed. Based on their findings, a paradigm change is proposed in the form of a modular container solution that uses disruptive digital technologies to ensure dynamic container identification (numbering) that can be exploited to overcome such inefficiencies. The technical requirements for coupling and decoupling operations are identified, along with detailed analysis of the requirements for embedded electronic components. Considering the strict container data exchange rules, the required changes in global container tracking systems are identified and explained. Coupling, decoupling, and serial number assignment procedures are proposed along with analysis of the measured lead times. Modularization and dynamic smart numbering are identified as viable disruptive technologies to address the global container imbalance. The authors contribute to the existing research on maritime transport sustainability by proposing a modular container solution, exploiting disruptive digital technologies, and clearly defining the prerequisites for the global introduction of the solution as a part of the digital transformation portfolio of involved stakeholders managing global container movements

Concerning Intelligent ICT Exploitation in some Maritime Business Organizations: A Pilot Study

This paper examines to which extent some maritime business organizations intelligently use their Information and Communication Technology (ICT) resources. The research is done as a pilot study, since it includes relatively small number of maritime business entities from Montenegro, Albania, Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. Our intention was to indirectly check whether these organizations are ready for the adoption and routinization of novel ICT systems like e-Navigation, Maritime Cloud, e-Maritime, National/Maritime Single Window (N/MSW) etc., through assessing how intelligently they exploit existing ICT solutions. Even though all interviewed managers have evaluated knowledge, organizational culture and managerial skills as key constructs that provide the business organizations’ success, the level of intelligent exploitation of the available ICT solutions is not high. This is problematic, especially if we bare in mind the necessity of making quick adaptation to the considerably more complex, sophisticated and demanding ICT solutions within the context of actual huge digital turbulence in the maritime community

Developing Countries’ Concerns Regarding Blockchain Adoption in Maritime

This paper deals with challenges of implementing blockchain (BC) technology in maritime at developing countries, with a research focus on Montenegro and South Africa. Research design and categories analyzed in the paper are chosen due to the search of relevant secondary literature resources. Selected experts in Information Technology (IT) and maritime from aforementioned developing countries were asked about their perception of BC as disruptive technology, its implementation, and implications on maritime and other industries, through a questionnaire, which contains both quantitative and qualitative parts. The results should give the readers insights into the experts’ standpoints concerning rational blockchain adoption in maritime and other industries in developing and transitional economies. The paper is organized into six sections: (1) introduction, (2) literature review on blockchain in maritime, (3) research problem and design, (4) results, (5) discussion, and (6) conclusions